Dardeh laughed.<\/p>\n
Rayya had in fact spent the early morning hours staring at Dardeh with an almost hungry look in her eyes. He finally had taken her aside to speak to her. It seemed prudent to him to nip things in the bud.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen, Rayya. I\u2019d hoped we wouldn\u2019t need to have this conversation, but here we are. You need to understand something about me. I am married to Roggi. Roggi is,\u201d and he\u2019d smiled at the broad back leaning over the oven as he pulled out some meat pies, \u201ca man, as you can see. If I hadn\u2019t met Roggi I might have eventually married someone else, but it would have been a man. Do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rayya had stared at him for a moment, with her incredible eyes wide and full of what looked to him like longing, and then had sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sir. It\u2019s just that I\u2019ve never met anyone like you before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh grinned. \u201cAnd you\u2019re not likely to, either. As far as anyone knows, I\u2019m the only Dragonborn currently alive. But it\u2019s important that you understand. This has nothing to do with you, personally. I\u2019m just \u2026\u201d He paused, not quite knowing how to finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarried,\u201d Rayya said with a smirk. \u201cAnd I guess I have met other men like you before.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cI always seem to be attracted to the ones who aren\u2019t available.\u00a0 I hope you won\u2019t hold it against me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, no, don\u2019t worry about it.\u00a0 I\u2019m, uh,\u201d he ran his hand up over his hair, still slightly surprised to find it loose rather than in tight braids. \u201cI\u2019m used to it. At any rate, Rayya, you are quite welcome here. We don\u2019t often have much need to fight here at the house, but once the girls are home it will make me feel much better to have you here as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rayya smiled. \u201cThank you. Speaking of children, I\u2019ve noticed that your house is a little dusty. I\u2019ll have it pristine for their return.\u201d\u00a0 She\u2019d turned and made for the closed doorway to the children\u2019s room, opening it up and tsking at the staleness of the air and the amount of cleaning that needed to happen.<\/p>\n
Roggi hadn\u2019t said much at the time, but it had been clear to Dardeh that he still didn\u2019t trust Rayya.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you laughing, Dar?\u201d Roggi grumbled. \u201cIt\u2019s not funny.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is if you\u2019re me,\u201d Dardeh said. \u201cIf I had a septim for every time I\u2019ve had to have that conversation since I was a young man, we\u2019d never have to work again, Roggi.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry about it.\u00a0 And we\u2019re going to Whiterun first because one of the people milling around that dragon told us someone in Whiterun was looking for me, remember? We have to head east anyway; this is just a bit of a long and scenic route.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. Right.\u201d Roggi shot him a sideways glance and smiled. \u201cI\u2019m sorry to always be on edge about things, Dar.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that I\u2019ve never had very good luck with my love life, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
They were approaching Whiterun now, and Dardeh could see the piles of burned rubble outside its walls.\u00a0 People had obviously been working to clear the damage from the battle, but hadn\u2019t gotten much farther than the gates.\u00a0 He frowned, and pointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooks like things aren\u2019t back to normal yet. I wonder if there\u2019s something we can do to help?\u201d\u00a0 Then he chuckled. \u201cAs to the other thing, Roggi, it seems to me you\u2019ve gotten lucky quite a bit in your lifetime, from what you\u2019ve told me.\u201d He couldn\u2019t keep the grin off his face, but didn\u2019t dare look Roggi in the eyes for fear of laughing outright at him.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t matter, because Roggi burst out laughing anyway. \u201cDar, you shock me.\u201d\u00a0 Dardeh snickered. \u201cI mean long-term. And ok, I\u2019ll stop gnawing it to bits.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I think we both need to work on that. I shouldn\u2019t automatically assume the worst every time I see someone smile at you, either. Come on, let\u2019s go see how the place looks. I\u2019m feeling a little guilty about our part in what\u2019s happened to it.\u201d\u00a0 They walked up the long roadway to Whiterun\u2019s gates and entered the city.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/4-3-6-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
Whiterun looked to have returned to normal, at least on first glance. The children were still racing about in the streets; Adrianne Avenicci pounded metal at her workbench as she always had.\u00a0 And yet here and there as they proceeded toward the center of town was a whiff of burned timber, a decorative bush trampled, a gouge in a wall.\u00a0 Severio Pelagia\u2019s house up on the hillside had been struck by one of the burning projectiles flung by Ulfric\u2019s siege engines. Dardeh stood before it and shook his head.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t look salvageable to him, with one of its two massive ridgepoles shattered and charred.\u00a0 Dardeh wasn\u2019t too concerned about Pelagia himself; after all, he also owned a farm outside the city and doubtless had gone there during the battle.\u00a0 But the damage still bothered him.<\/p>\n
We talked Ulfric into attacking. We\u2019re at least partially responsible for this.<\/em><\/p>\n They passed the marketplace and mounted the steps to the Wind District, and Dardeh gasped at the sight. The small cottage tucked into a corner before Jorrvaskr\u2019s stone retaining walls had been largely destroyed, a massive hole in its roof and a deep pile of rubble blocking its door.\u00a0 It had been the home of Heimskr, the priest of Talos; now he seemed to be living in a tent pitched on the embankment behind the shrine.<\/p>\n Just in front of them was an even sadder sight.\u00a0 The once-beautiful trellis that encircled the great Gildergreen tree was barely standing, parts of it hanging at crazy angles and held up by sheer luck, as far as Dardeh could see. Portions of the fencing had been completely flattened.\u00a0 This central area of Whiterun had always been a bit depressing as it was, given the great tree\u2019s lack of foliage; but now, with all the damage around it, the sight made Dardeh\u2019s heart ache.<\/p>\n He turned to Roggi.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you think? Does it look to you like this trellis can be fixed?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi made a slow circuit of the area, examining the base of the timbers.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I think so.\u00a0 It looks like most of the problem is that things just got pushed out of alignment.\u00a0 Not too many pieces are truly destroyed.\u00a0 You know, if we could round up a few big guys to help us hold it up and a bunch of nails, we could probably put it right again in not too long.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s what I thought, too. Let\u2019s go see who we can get to help.\u201d<\/p>\n They started at the Bannered Mare, Dardeh\u2019s other thought being that perhaps the man who was looking for them might be there.\u00a0 As lovely a day as it was, though, the place was largely deserted.\u00a0 Brenuin, the beggar, said he\u2019d help if he could get a coin out of the deal; Dardeh laughed and agreed, telling him to meet them near the tree in half an hour or so.<\/p>\n They retraced their steps through the city and entered the Drunken Huntsman to look for help. A skinny man wearing plain clothing and a cloth hat ran up to them as soon as they\u2019d entered the place.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the Nine!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s you! I was just asking around if anyone knew where I could find you.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh blinked. \u201cMe?\u00a0 Ah, are you the person who was looking for me in Falkreath a day or so ago?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAye! My master and I recently arrived here in Skyrim from Cyrodiil.\u00a0 He sent me to see if I could find you. I checked the tavern and inns in Falkreath first, and then thought I\u2019d start here when I didn\u2019t. But fortunately the gods favor me today, for you\u2019ve found me instead!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe heard of your escape from that awful dragon attack in Helgen and he urgently needs to speak to you. That\u2019s all I know.\u00a0 He\u2019s at the inn in Falkreath. Could you please meet him there at your earliest convenience?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFalkreath?\u201d Roggi burst out. \u201cYou\u2019re kidding me. That\u2019s where we\u2019ve just come from!\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh grinned at him. \u201cIt\u2019s ok, Roggi. We\u2019ll be going back there when we\u2019re done here, but our \u2018earliest convenience\u2019 is likely to be a few days yet. We have an important errand in Riften first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, here,\u201d the man said, looking disappointed. \u201cHe gave me this note to give you. I\u2019ll head back there and tell him that I\u2019ve found you. And that you\u2019ll be back in a few days or so. Now, if you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019ll be off. I have other errands to run as well.\u201d\u00a0 Before either Dardeh or Roggi could say more, the man had darted out the door.<\/p>\n \u201cWell that was odd,\u201d Dardeh murmured, breaking the seal on the note and skimming it. \u201cThe man thinks I may have some information he desperately needs because I was at Helgen when it got hit. I don\u2019t know, Ralof likely knows more than I do. Or Ulfric. They survived it, too. But I guess it won\u2019t hurt to talk to him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter<\/em> we\u2019re done getting the girls home, Dar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, dear,\u201d Dardeh said, slipping a sideways glance at Roggi. Roggi didn\u2019t look at him, but Dardeh saw his brow furrow in mock annoyance.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t make me hurt you,\u201d Roggi mumbled.<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go see if Ulthberth will give us a hand. He\u2019s a big guy.\u201d<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n A few hours later, they walked around the Gildergreen and admired their handiwork.\u00a0 Ulthberth had been happy to help out, especially after Dardeh spent a goodly amount of gold on nails and iron fittings to replace the ones that had been bent out of shape.\u00a0 They\u2019d gotten Farkas, Vilkas, and Torvar from the Companions to lend their bulk to the process, and both Jon Battle-Born and Amren the mercenary had stopped on their rounds to hold up some of the more precariously-leaning timbers while Roggi and Dardeh wrestled the new fittings into place.\u00a0 With so many muscles and hands working together they\u2019d put the place back together in a fraction of the time it would have taken otherwise; and Dardeh had thanked them all profusely and slipped Brenuin a couple of septims for his help.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should head on up to the keep,\u201d Jon Battle-Born had said before he left. \u201cLet the new Jarl know what you\u2019ve done. It was a great service to Whiterun and we\u2019re glad to have you back in town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I will,\u201d Dardeh said. \u201cThanks.\u201d\u00a0 He turned to Roggi, who was resting on one of the benches at the base of the tree. \u201cI feel a little odd about going up there, but I\u2019d like to make sure everything\u2019s ok.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, we should. There\u2019s nothing you can do about the fact that Balgruuf was a stubborn fool, and Battle-Born is right. You did a good thing for this city, and Vignar should know about it. Let\u2019s go.\u201d He rose and began leading Dardeh around the tree.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for repairing the trellis,\u201d a woman\u2019s voice said, just beside where they\u2019d been.\u00a0 Dardeh looked down to see a pair of the clerics from the Temple of Kynareth, enjoying a break from their healing duties. The woman smiled up at him. \u201cIt\u2019s a shame about the tree, though, isn\u2019t it? If only we could bring it to life again! It was planted as a seedling from the Eldergleam \u2013 probably the oldest living thing in Skyrim – when the first men arrived from Atmora in the early days of Whiterun. It\u2019s kind of an eyesore these days. A big dead tree isn\u2019t very inspiring if you\u2019ve come to worship the divine of wind and rains.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh looked past her, at the tree. It wasn\u2019t very inspiring, to be sure; it had no leaves and looked as though it might have been struck by lightning. It was the same bleak grayish-brown as the weathered wood of the trellis surrounding it. \u00a0\u201cIt is a shame,\u201d he found himself saying. \u201cI wonder if it could be restored somehow. It doesn\u2019t feel dead to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d the priestess said, \u201cI think I know a way. These old beings never really die, they just sleep. The Eldergleam grows in a sanctuary far to the east. If we had some of its sap, I\u2019m sure we could wake the child. But to harvest it you\u2019d need the old magic. I\u2019ve heard of a weapon called Nettlebane, made from sacrificed spriggans by the Hagravens. It\u2019s in a nest called Orphan Rock, up past Helgen.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh smiled at her.<\/p>\n Helgen seems to be calling for me today.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell you what. How about I go get Nettlebane for you? I\u2019d like to see this tree restored, as well.\u00a0 It might give us all a little hope for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n The priestess reached out and squeezed his hand. \u201cYour spirit is strong. Kynareth\u2019s winds guide your path.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi was standing with his arms crossed, shaking his head, as Dardeh joined him. \u201cWhat have you gotten us into now, Dar?\u00a0 I thought you were in a hurry to get the girls.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah. Look, they\u2019ll be safe with Brynjolf and Sayma for a few more days. They\u2019re probably having a ball with young Bryn. Let me do this, Roggi.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cNobody knows what I did with Alduin. You\u2019ve told me that often enough, and it\u2019s true. Let this be something they can point to and say \u2018the Dragonborn did this for us.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStarting to take yourself seriously, eh?\u201d Roggi teased as they walked up the stairs toward Dragon\u2019s Reach.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, maybe a little bit. I\u2019ve earned it, though, haven\u2019t I? I\u2019d like to be able to have something, I don\u2019t know, tangible to show for all the effort you and I have expended in the past couple of years.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled at his husband. \u201cBecause you\u2019re as much a part of it as I am.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi laughed. \u201cNo. I\u2019ll never be able to make a word in dragon language, Dar. Or push people out of the way with my voice. But if I\u2019ve helped you, that\u2019s good enough for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh pushed open the door to Dragon\u2019s Reach and chuckled. \u201cYou helped me, and you helped Ulfric, and you helped that guy up there,\u201d he said, pointing to the elderly man seated in what had been Balgruuf the Greater\u2019s throne.<\/p>\n \u201cThere you are, Dragonborn,\u201d Vignar Gray-Mane said as they approached the throne. \u201cI wondered when you\u2019d return. I understand you\u2019ve repaired the trellis. Well done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it wasn\u2019t just me, Jarl Vignar. There were a great many of us who worked on it. Your friends from Jorrvaskr, even Jon Battle-Born helped. But yes! The trellis is back together. Whiterun seems on its way to recovering from the war. I have to say I\u2019m relieved.\u00a0 I\u2026 was very troubled that we had to damage it in order to overthrow the Legion.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEh,\u201d the old man said, waving a hand in the air. \u201cIt had to happen. For thirty years I served the Legion as a commander. Fought in the Great War. But when the Legion surrendered to the Aldmeri Dominion they shamed us all! Good riddance to them. Now Whiterun belongs to its rightful heirs.\u201d He leaned forward and peered at Dardeh. \u201cBy the way, boy. It just so happens that I have an opening for a Thane in my court. It\u2019s an honorary title, for the most part, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed. \u201cWell I wasn\u2019t expecting that. I was a Thane here before we attacked, sir. If you\u2019re offering me the spot once more, I\u2019d be honored to accept it. You do know though, that I live just across the hold border into Falkreath.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, of course I know that. I\u2019m not a fool, son.\u00a0 But you also own a home in Whiterun and therefore,\u201d he continued, rushing ahead before Dardeh could interrupt to say that he\u2019d given that home to Lydia, \u201cI hereby name you Thane of Whiterun. Et cetera, et cetera. Oh yes, I give you a housecarl, and this weapon to serve as your badge of office. Now go forth and multiply. Or whatever it is that you do, Dragonborn.\u00a0 And thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed. The old man was so very unsuited to the niceties and rituals of rule, and yet he knew exactly what he was doing, there was no doubt about it. It occurred to him that the same could be said for the new Jarl of Falkreath Hold; both of them were crusty old warriors whose time had returned at last.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Jarl Vignar. I\u2019ll do my best to continue helping Whiterun.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned to find Roggi shaking his head. \u201cDardeh, my love, you have this habit of getting yourself in over your head.\u201d\u00a0 Then he smiled. \u201cBut I\u2019m proud of you. Twice-Thaned! \u00a0You\u2019d best not be giving me the \u2018only a miner\u2019 line any time soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh ran one hand up over his head. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m not quite sure what to think of it myself. Well, let\u2019s go. It\u2019s a long hike up to Orphan Rock.\u201d<\/p>\n They were almost to the doors of the keep when a quiet voice interrupted them.<\/p>\n \u201cGreetings, my Thane.\u00a0 I am your sword and your shield.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh stopped.\u00a0 His mouth dropped open as the dark-haired beauty he\u2019d once called a work of art stepped out from behind one of the keep\u2019s massive support pillars to stand before them. She looked hesitant; her eyes held both pain and joy together even as they questioned him.<\/p>\n \u201cLydia!\u201d he breathed.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, my Thane. Jarl Vignar has appointed me to be your Housecarl.\u00a0 If you will have me, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh stood staring at her for another moment, unable to quite grasp what was happening. Then he crossed the space between them in two long strides and wrapped himself around her.<\/p>\n \u201cLydia. By the Nine, Lydia, I was afraid you\u2019d been killed in the battle but here you are. Oh, the gods are good.\u00a0 Of course, Lydia. Of course we will have you.\u00a0 I am so happy you\u2019re here.\u201d He held her for a long moment, rocking back and forth; and when she made a sound it was half laughter, half tears.<\/p>\n \u201cDar. Give a guy a chance to say hello, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi peeled Dardeh away from Lydia and then wrapped her in a warm embrace of his own.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you again, Lydia,\u201d he murmured next to her ear.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve missed you. Very much.\u201d<\/p>\n Lydia smiled at Roggi. \u201cThank you, my friend,\u201d she said simply. \u201cI thought you would reject me, both of you, because I came back at Balgruuf\u2019s call.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, we understood,\u201d Roggi said, shaking his head. \u201cListen, I was a soldier for a long time before I went back to mining. Your commander calls for you and you report in. That\u2019s just how it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh grimaced. Yes. Even if your commander did things to hurt you.<\/em><\/p>\n Lydia looked down at the floor, seeming not to want to meet their gazes. \u201cHe\u2026 wouldn\u2019t take me with him, after the battle was over. He told me I belonged to Whiterun, not to him, and he told me to stay here.\u201d\u00a0 She looked up at Dardeh, and he saw unshed tears standing in her eyes. \u201cIt was hard to watch them leave, Dar.\u201d<\/p>\n So it <\/em>was Balgruuf? Is that what you\u2019re saying to us, Lydia? How cruel of him, to just use you like that.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure it was. But you know you\u2019re always welcome with us. You know that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled, and nodded, blinking back tears and not speaking.<\/p>\n Dardeh smiled at Roggi and then turned to her again. \u201cBesides, I have this Axe of Whiterun for you to guard.\u201d\u00a0 He handed it to her, and she snickered. \u201cHey, you know how you\u2019ve always said you wanted to go fighting with us? Well, we have this job to do\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He slipped one arm around her shoulders and turned her toward the door as he started to describe what they\u2019d be doing in order to revive the Gildergreen tree.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n \u201cMID- VUR SHAAN!\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh chuckled as his voice ricocheted off the rocks of the pass, returning to him like a clap of thunder.\u00a0 He looked back at Roggi \u2013 who was grinning \u2013 and Lydia, who looked shocked.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat in the world was that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFeeling energetic?\u201d Dardeh asked her.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s what it\u2019s for. Helps in fighting things. I figured if we\u2019re up against a hagraven, every little bit helps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes!\u201d she said, breaking out into a broad smile. \u201cI do feel energetic. Wow, Dardeh, I\u2019ve been missing out all this time.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh pushed forward up the path leading north from the roadway. This was going to be tricky; the day had turned cloudy and the light was just low enough that seeing past the dark trees to find living shapes was a challenge.\u00a0 He pulled out his bow and fitted an arrow to the string, holding it at the ready as he peered into the undergrowth for any signs of movement.\u00a0 If not for the sudden flash of magic being cast, quite some way ahead, he would never have seen the mage engaging a lone soldier.<\/p>\n A moment later, Lydia shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on! Come on!\u201d\u00a0 The Dunmer mage emerged from behind a tree and cast a fireball that whizzed into the narrow gap between Lydia and Roggi.\u00a0 Roggi roared and attacked the woman.\u00a0 Lydia stepped in to slice at her with the axe, then fell back.<\/p>\n \u201cYOL- TOOR SHUL!\u201d<\/p>\n The fireball blasted from Dardeh and consumed the mage, as both Roggi and Lydia backpedaled away from it as fast as they could.\u00a0 The mage was still.<\/p>\n \u201cDardeh!<\/em>\u201d Lydia breathed.<\/p>\n \u201cBy Ysmir, Dar. You killed her with it!\u201d Roggi said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the idea, Roggi. At least that time I knew I was doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve gotten stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded and gave his husband a grim smile. I\u2019ve been this strong for a long time. You\u2019ve just never seen it. Why do you think I was so worried about facing Ulfric while I wasn\u2019t sure of my own sanity?<\/em><\/p>\n A moment later, another witch came tearing through the forest toward them, proclaiming that she would see them burn.\u00a0 Roggi sighed heavily, lifted his dragonbone sword and brought it down through her torso as if it was the most routine thing he\u2019d done all day. They continued around the base of a large rock outcropping, the top of which would be inaccessible if not for a fallen log that acted as a bridge from the next embankment.\u00a0 Dardeh was about to point at the log when a shock spell slammed into him.\u00a0 He gasped, breathless with pain; but once again Roggi rushed past him with his sword held high.<\/p>\n \u201cLast mistake!\u201d he growled at the woman who had cast the spell before running her through.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Roggi,\u201d Dardeh murmured, waving them forward toward the log bridge.<\/p>\n A fireball suddenly exploded not too far from Lydia.<\/p>\n \u201cGet them!\u201d she shrieked, as Roggi dashed toward the mage with Dardeh in pursuit.\u00a0 And then he lost track of Roggi and Lydia both.\u00a0 He could hear the sounds of their combat behind him, but couldn\u2019t turn back to help; for just across the log in front of him was the hagraven they\u2019d come to kill.\u00a0 He Shouted fire breath at her; it pushed her off-balance for a moment but did not kill her, for she was a creature attuned to fire magic herself.\u00a0 As she straightened and gathered magic in her claws Dardeh sprinted into her with both weapons moving.\u00a0 It took him two attacks to drop the creature, but drop she did. In the quiet that followed he examined her corpse and found that she wore a short blade of strange design, its wavy blade narrowing to an up-curved point.<\/p>\n This has to be Nettlebane.\u00a0 Now to get us out of here in one piece.<\/em><\/p>\n He rose to his feet and was about to stretch when there was an explosion behind him.\u00a0 He whirled and dashed for the log bridge; on the other side Lydia was engaged with yet another witch.\u00a0 He had just a moment to register the impressive shield bash Lydia used on the hag, staggering her; then he slipped sideways off the log and had to scramble up the side of the embankment.\u00a0 Lydia and the hag had disappeared around a tall pine tree, but he could hear them fighting.\u00a0 He ran to assist; and just as he reached the tree heard the distinctive sound of a sword sliding through fabric and flesh, and a groan that was definitely not Lydia\u2019s.<\/p>\n She stepped back into the open, grinning from ear to ear.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I didn\u2019t need to come rescue you, huh,\u201d Dardeh said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t realize that already, Dar?\u201d Roggi laughed as he trotted up the slope to meet them.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I guess I did; but it\u2019s something to see in action. Let\u2019s get back to Whiterun.\u201d<\/p>\n Eldergleam Sanctuary was quiet, and moist, and smelled like growing things and good, fertile soil.\u00a0 Dardeh looked around in the dim moonlight that filtered down through the opening at the very top of this huge cavern, and spied what they\u2019d come for: perched on a ledge just beneath the opening, with its huge roots spreading down the sides of the cavern toward the running water below, was a great tree covered in pink blossoms.\u00a0 He said nothing, merely pointed up toward the tree.\u00a0 Roggi and Lydia nodded. The man who had accompanied them there \u2013 one Maurice Jondrelle, a pilgrim who had been badgering the priestess Danica when they returned to Whiterun \u2013 started up the path toward the tree, only to stop and speak to a man who was resting on a grassy knoll beside the water.<\/p>\n The path wound around the edge of the cavern, over a running stream and next to several pools.\u00a0 In addition to the man Maurice had stopped to speak with there was a young woman wandering the grass. Dardeh continued up the path, followed by Roggi; Lydia, however, approached the young woman.<\/p>\n Not far up the slope they discovered why they needed a special weapon to harvest sap from the tree.\u00a0 Some of its huge roots had grown down across the path. Neither one of them could jump high enough to get atop or past it. Roggi tried using his massive grip to pull the roots aside, but they wouldn\u2019t budge.\u00a0 Dardeh thought for a moment and pulled out his double-edged sword.<\/p>\n \u201cI hate to do this to you, old girl, but you have to let us pass,\u201d he murmured.\u00a0 Then he swung with all his strength.\u00a0 The sword clanged as it struck the woody root and ricocheted back so hard that he had to dodge it.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, is this what Nettlebane is for?\u201d Roggi asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess.\u00a0 Who would have thought it would be this hard to move a root?\u00a0 I surely don\u2019t want to use fire on it; all I\u2019d do is start a mess in this sanctuary.\u201d\u00a0 He found the odd dagger in his pack and gripped it.<\/p>\n The thing did seem to have an energy to it, if not something he recognized as magic.\u00a0 The old magic, she called it. Maybe the tree will know what it is, if she\u2019s as old as Danica suggested. <\/em>She had sent them here after admitting that she didn\u2019t want to touch the dagger.<\/p>\n He took an easy swing at the root.\u00a0 To his amazement it drew up, and back, pulling itself away from the blade as though it was terrified.\u00a0 Dardeh turned to look at Roggi and shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess that was it. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n There were two other huge roots blocking the way to the tree, and both of them responded to the blade with the same sort of dread.\u00a0 Dardeh found himself growing a bit concerned.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope we\u2019re doing the right thing here.\u201d<\/p>\n He approached the trunk. The Eldergleam was a massive thing, many times Dardeh\u2019s circumference, with bark so thick that he could place his individual fingers in its folds.\u00a0 He did so, and closed his eyes, and found that he felt some sort of energy in the enormous plant.\u00a0 In spite of how it might have looked to anyone else he started speaking to it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not here to hurt you, old sweetheart. We just need a bit of your sap \u2013 just a little bit of it \u2013 so that your child in Whiterun can awaken from her slumber.\u00a0 Please let us do this.\u00a0 I won\u2019t take any more than necessary, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n He heard Roggi harrumph, and opened his eyes to find his husband staring warily down toward the sanctuary below.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t like it, Dar.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m sensing, but I don\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright. Let me collect the sap and we\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh hated to use the Nettlebane on the tree again, but there was no other choice.\u00a0 He found a spot where the bark was slightly thinner and pierced it, collecting the sap as it began to ooze out; and as he did so it almost seemed as though the tree shuddered.<\/p>\n \u201cSpriggan!\u201d Roggi shouted.<\/p>\n The next few minutes were a blur.\u00a0 Dardeh stashed his vial of sap and bolted to help Roggi with the spriggan.\u00a0 They heard shouting from the sanctuary below, and ran for the path, only to be stopped by another spriggan.\u00a0 Dardeh slashed at it, wishing he could use Fire Breath, for that would certainly take care of the problem; but he was still afraid of setting the rest of the Sanctuary \u2013 or gods forbid, the Eldergleam itself \u2013 alight.\u00a0 They finally bested the creature and hurtled down the path to where Lydia was fully engaged with a much larger spriggan matron.\u00a0 Dardeh started toward her, but Roggi dashed past him and began hacking at the matron.\u00a0 Dardeh heard a scream from farther down the path and bolted toward it; but as he rounded the corner and crossed onto the grassy area he watched the young woman fall to another spriggan. He roared and rushed forward, slashing at the beast, pushing it back toward the stream, closer and closer to the water until finally he could no longer contain his rage.<\/p>\n \u201cYOL- TOOR SHUL!\u201d<\/p>\n The spriggan burned instantly, its ashes falling harmlessly into the water and being swept away.\u00a0 Dardeh ran back to the young woman who had fallen, hoping that there was some chance she might be saved.\u00a0 She was already going cold.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u00a0 You poor thing. I\u2019m so sorry,\u201d he said, finding himself weeping in spite of not having known her. He knelt there for a moment, struggling to compose himself, and then heard Roggi and Lydia approaching.<\/p>\n \u201cWe lost all of them, Dar,\u201d Roggi said quietly. \u201cEven that Maurice guy. I feel bad. All he wanted to do was worship the damn tree.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not your fault, my Thane,\u201d Lydia said, laying a hand on his shoulder. \u201cSpriggans don\u2019t have any kind of higher understanding. They just protect what they protect. They had no way to know you mean to revive the tree in Whiterun.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh shook his head, and heaved himself to his feet. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand, Lydia,\u201d he said. \u201cI lost people in Solstheim because I was too slow. I lost people in battles, here, because I was too slow. If I\u2019d been a bit faster I might have been able to save\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDardeh,\u201d Lydia said sternly. \u201cThat\u2019s quite enough of that. This was not your fault. It\u2019s not anybody\u2019s fault.\u00a0 You did your best, and so did we, and now we\u2019ll go home and wait for the Gildergreen to show her full beauty once more.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh stared at Lydia for a moment, startled that she\u2019d just ordered him around, and then began to smile.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d she asked, frowning.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve missed having you nag me, Lydia. Roggi can\u2019t do it all by himself. It\u2019s good to have you back.\u201d<\/p>\n As Roggi snickered, Dardeh pulled Lydia into another warm embrace.\u00a0 He put his mouth near her ear and whispered, \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n It was full dark on the following night by the time they reached Whiterun and delivered the vial of sap to Danica Pure-Spring.\u00a0 She was delighted that they\u2019d succeeded.\u00a0 Dardeh decided not to tell her about the high price they\u2019d needed to pay to secure the sap.<\/p>\n He also didn\u2019t mention the vampires that had come roaring out onto the road just south of Valtheim Towers.\u00a0 They\u2019d taken care of all of them, thanks in part to Dardeh\u2019s dragon fire; but Roggi had fussed at him the whole way from there to Whiterun.\u00a0 Was he alright? Did he have Sanguinare Vampiris? Why were the vampires attacking him, all of a sudden?<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s me, Roggi,\u201d he\u2019d said.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re vampires. They\u2019ll attack anything that looks like food, as far as I can tell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Dar,\u201d Roggi had complained. \u201cYou know Brynjolf. He wasn\u2019t just some bloodthirsty animal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know that?\u00a0 Were you with him when he was a vampire?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, not often<\/em>, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight. Not often. And we don\u2019t know how he acted when he was with Andante.\u201d<\/p>\n And then he\u2019d had to fill in the gaps for Lydia, who hadn\u2019t known about any of those<\/em> details.\u00a0 They\u2019d caught each other up; they told Lydia about their parts in the war, and she\u2019d told them about how she\u2019d taken Balgruuf\u2019s children to the lowest level of the keep when the battle had started, at his direction, and hadn\u2019t seen anything that had transpired outside the safe confines of Dragon\u2019s Reach.\u00a0 Dardeh, Roggi, and Frina had all been gone by the time she\u2019d emerged with the children only to learn that Balgruuf would not take her with him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Lydia,\u201d Roggi murmured, giving her a one-armed hug.\u00a0 \u201cThat must have hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, it did,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s a lot older than me but I really thought\u2026 well, it doesn\u2019t matter now, does it.\u201d<\/p>\n But it does matter. He hurt me, by rejecting my friendship; and he hurt Lydia by leaving her behind. That makes him not much better than Ulfric, if we\u2019re honest.\u00a0 And that means he is no longer my Jarl.<\/em><\/p>\n But now Dardeh found himself smiling down at Lydia as she rested on one of the benches beneath the Gildergreen.<\/p>\n She\u2019s still the most beautiful woman in the world to me.\u00a0 And if I were ever to want a woman, it would only be Lydia. I\u2019m so glad she\u2019s here with us again.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you say, Lydia?\u00a0 We have to go to Riften to get the girls. They\u2019ve been staying with Brynjolf and Sayma.\u00a0 Come with us?\u201d<\/p>\n Lydia smiled up at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that would be wonderful, Dardeh.\u201d\u00a0 Then her smile turned to a mischievous smirk. \u201cAnd then we need to do something about that hair of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh\u2019s mouth fell open.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy you little\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOho!\u201d Roggi laughed, coming to stand beside him.\u00a0 \u201cSeems just like old times to me, Dar.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t said much about the hair but it was only a matter of time, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you start on him, Roggi Knot-Beard,\u201d Lydia said. \u201cYours is still longer than mine and I have ways to fix that, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh turned to smile at Roggi.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve met our match, husband.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go gather everyone, and then let\u2019s go home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo tell me again why we\u2019re going to Whiterun first?\u201d It was a beautiful day. Bright, sunny, and as warm as it ever got in Skyrim; and Dardeh\u2019s spirits were high along with it. He glanced at his husband and grinned. \u201cI would have thought you\u2019d be happy we had an excuse to get away … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/4-3-6-3.png\")
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